A.4 Overcoming the Obstacle of Animism

• Computer revolution has passed its infancy, but still tremendous opportunity for change
• Metaphors, images, and names chosen for systems play a key role
• Metaphor and terminology of human form can mislead designers and users of robots
• ATMs as example of evolution from anthropomorphism to service orientation
• Focus should be on service to human needs, not technology itself
• Human-human communication is a poor model for human-computer interaction
• Users want to be empowered by technology, not awed by it